Process for causing solids to be penetrated by or impregnated with liquids or solutions of various substances



Sept. 29, 1931. H. J. COLLINS 1,325,509

PRQPESS FOR CAUSING SOLIDS TO BE PENETRATED BY OR IMPREGNA'IED WITH LIQUIDS OR SOLUTIONS OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES Filed June 15. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 29, 1931. H. J. COLLINS 1,825,509

PROCESS FOR CAUSING SOLIDS TO BE PENETRATED BY OR IMPREGNATED WITH LIQUIDS OR SOLUTIONS OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES Filed June 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED -STATES' PATENT OFFICE nom'rro (roan COLLINS, or nonnon, nema:

PROCESS FOR C AUSING SOLIDS TO BE PENETRATED BY 03 IMPREGNATED WITH LIQUIDS OR SOLUTIONS OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES Application filed June 15, 1 928, Seria1 No. 285,618, and in Great Britain May 16, 1928.

This invention relates to an: improved process of and apparatus for causing solids to be penetrated by or impregnated with liquids or solutions of various substances. The process is applidtble gener'ally, wherever it is desired to induce or force. a liquid or solution or a liquid having solids in suspension therein into the pores or interstices of a solid. Some examples are,'the treatment of hides or leather, the preservation or-stainin'g of wood, the fillin or loading of textile materials, waterproofing materials, the curing or preserving of foodstuffs.

for example, the liquid in the container "may be kept under p'ressureby' a pump which draws its liquid supply from a reservoir, suitable valves being provided between the container, pump and reservoir. A bypass may be providedromthe delivery side of the pump so that,';when the by-passis opened, continued actionpf the pump will produce continuous alterations in the pressure in the container. If desired the pump may be so driven that the speed of the delivery stroke is suddenly accelerated as the end of the stroke is reached, so that a more sudden increase of pressure is produced, causing a correspondingly sharper hammer blowor impulse on the liquid in the container. Again, a suitably loaded valve may be interposed between the pump delivery and the container which will cause the pressure to build up until a definite point isreached when the valve will open, causing a sharp impulse on the liquid in the container; Such a valve may be combined with a pressure storage vessel, an-air vessel, for

livery valve v15 and the drum 3 a bypass example, in fact, any method may be used 7 whereby the liquid in the container is caused of According to the invention, the substance The apparatus illustrated is particularly applicable for treating hides or leather in a tan solution. As shown, it comprises a drum 3 having a filling funnel 4 at the top controlled by a stop cock 5, a connection 6 at the bottom for attachment to a pressure system and a support 7 for the material tobe treated. One side 8 of the drum is removable and'is provided with a handle 9 and is preferably bolted to the flange 10 of the drum, a rubber or like packing ring ll'be-ing inserted at the joint so that an airtight fit is ensured.

It will be understood that the drum is so constructed that it is airtight. The connection 6 at the bottom of the drum is adapted to receive a delivery pipe 12 connected to a suitable pump 13, the suction side of the pump being connectedto a reservoir 1 containing the desired lmpregnating liquid. The pump is of any suitable type and an ordinary solid piston pump is here shown such as is used for supplying fuel in internal combustion engines. The delivery and suction valves of the pump are indicated at 15.,- 16 respectively. At a point between the deline 17 is provided, connected to the pump chamber by a pipe 18 and running back into the reservoir as shown. Stop cocks may be provided at 19, 20, and 21. The reservoir 14 is further provided with a drain pipe 22 and 'a stop cock (not shown). The various pipes connected to the reservoir preferably terminate in a block 23, having passages as shown, secured to the reservoir bottom, and

a filter may be arranged on the top of the hides The.wet hide is hung in the drum andblock. A pressure gauge {24 may be pro vided on the delivery side of the pump. With the above described arrangement, for the treatment of hides with a .tansolution, the hides areqsuspended in the drum 3 from the support 7 and the side 8 securely closed. The reservoir 14 is filled with the tan solution, the cock 5 is o ened and the pump is operated to fill the rum with liquid, the by-pass line being closed by the cocks 20, 21. As the drum fills the air is expelled-through thefunnel 4 and, when the drumis filled to the desired extent, the cock 5 is closed and the operation of the pump is continued until the liquid in the drum is under the desired pressure. At this point, the cock 20 in the by-pass line is opened and with the continued operation of the pump, an impulse, or sharp increase of pressure is produced on the liquid in the drum at the end of every delivery stroke of the pump, the liquid passing through the delivery valve 15 and/or the by-p'ass. As before mentioned, the pump may be so driven that towards the end of the delivery stroke the pump piston receives a sudden acceleration to ensure a sharper impulse or blow or increased variatlon 1n the pressure on the liq- 'uid in the system. When the cock 20 in the by-pass is opened the speed of the pum may be increased with advantage. The 000 21 is provided to enable the liquid in the drum todrain back to the reservoir when desired.

The following is an example of the use of the above-described apparatus in tanning the latter is filled with a tan solution of approximately .65 barkometer and is then placed under a mean pressureof 100 lbs. per square inch by means of the pump. The pump is then operated to produce a continuous' variation of the pressure in the drum of 25 lbs. either way, that is to say, the forward or delivery stroke of the pump raises the pressure to125 lbs. per square inch and the return or suction stroke reduces cuit. Under these conditions,if the pump is operated at 250 strokes per minute, it is found that the hide will be struck'through with a tan in approximately. six hours. If

a tan solution of approximately 200 barkom- .eter is then substituted in the drum and the process is repeated, the pump running for approximately a. further 18 hours at the speed and producing the continuous pressure variations mentionedabove, the hide will be'completly tanned and filled.

It will. be understood that any suitable I form of pugnp or other apparatus for producing the desired. pulsations may be ems.

ployed and the pump or other apparatus may be driven by hand or power. I

In a modification, the liquid in the drum may be separated from the liquid in the pressure system by a diaphragm and the pulsations produced by applying the pressure to the diaphragm. Such an arrangement is of advantage when dealing with cor- ,rosive fluids, since water or any other liquid may be used in the ressure system and the corrosive liquid con ned to the drum,

In this case, it will be understood that the liquid'inthe drum will be placed under the desired pressure by suitable means before the pulsations are applied to the diaphragm.

In place of the diaphragm a cylinder containing a piston may be employed, one side of the piston communicating with the liquid in the drum and the other side with the pump circuit.

The process may be carried out with hot or cold liquids and it will be understood that the pressure of the liquid in the drum will a liquid, consisting in suspending the solid within a closed chamber completely filled 'with liquid under pressure and imparting 'to the liquid a continuous series of rapid impulses in the nature of hammer blows.

2. A method of impregnating a solid with a liquid, consisting in suspending the solid within .a closed chamber filled with liquid under-pressure and then by a continuous series of variations of the volume occupied by the liquid producing a continuous series of variations in the pressure, the changes of volume being effected by actual mechanical displacement of a portion ofthe liquid.

3. A method of impregnating a solid with a liquid consistin in suspending the solid within a closed c amber}containing liquid underpressure and imparting to the liquid a continuous series of rapid impulses in the nature of hammer blows.

'4. A method of impregnating a-solid with a liquid consisting in suspending the solid within a closed chamber containing liquid under pressure and then by av continuous series of variations in the volume occupied by the liquid producing a continuous series of'variations in the :pressure,'the changes of volume being effected by actual mechanical displacement of a portion of the liquid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my I name to this specification.

HORATIOJQHN COLL NS. 

